The Weekly News: Week 24

Dr. Sandra Fowler-Hill in front of Chime Tower

This past week

I can’t believe this is the last weekly news for 2019. My time
at the Penguin Nation has flown by fast. As I reflect back on the last twenty
four weeks, I count your success and the amazing work you have done in teaching
and supporting our students. I look forward to all that 2020 brings to Clark
College, including its next President.

Correction

My apologies for the oversight in listing the Presidential
search committee members in last week’s Weekly News: I accidentally omitted
Cath Keane from Career Services. I greatly appreciate Cath’s participation on
the Search Committee. Thanks, Cath.

Presidential Finalists College Forums

The four presidential candidate
finalists will be on campus in January. I encourage everyone to attend the
college forums that will be held as part of the two-day long interview process
and provide your feedback.  We are still finalizing the location on campus
but I can tell you the forums will be held 12:00-1:00pm on the following dates:

  • Tuesday, January 14: Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy, vice president of student access, involvement, and success at SUNY Westchester Community College.
  • Friday, January 17: Dr. Karin Edwards, president of the Cascade Campus of Portland Community College
  • Wednesday, January 22: Dr. Lamata D. Mitchell, vice president of instruction and academic operations at Pima Community College
  • Friday, January 24: Dr. Joaquín G. Martínez, district vice provost of institutional effectiveness at Miami Dade College

Biographies of all four finalists are available online atwww.clark.edu/presidential-search/search/finalists.php

Budget news from Olympia

The Governor released his 2020 Supplemental Operating and
Capital Budgets on December 18. Below is a summary of the Governor’s proposals
that impact the community and technical college system:

Operating Budget

  1. $2.4 Million for the Job Skills Program – In alignment with his Career Connect Washington initiative,
    the Governor proposed to expand customized, short-term and job-specific
    training for incumbent workers through the Job Skills program. Job Skills
    co-invests with employers who need customized training due to growth and
    changes in technology, and to address skills shortages. Currently, the Job
    Skills Program has $5 million in funding to provide training to meet employers’
    specific needs. Due to the high demand, the entire $5 million has already
    been committed for this biennium. If funded by the Legislature, this would
    allow a 50 percent expansion of the program, which is highly respected by both
    business and labor.
  • $1.6 Million for Increased Attorney General Services – These funds were requested by both the Attorney General and
    SBCTC to cover unanticipated legal costs.

Capital Budget

The Governor’s budget does
not include any new capital funding or local financing authorities for the CTC
system.

These are the “bigger pieces” of
his budget affecting our system. Minor changes that typically occur in a
supplemental budget (i.e., changes in pension rates and funding) are also
proposed. I will let you know if we discover anything noteworthy as we dig
into the details, as well as updates on the Legislature’s budget
decisions. 

Faculty Negotiations continue

Clark College and the AHE are meeting
today, December 27, to continue negotiations to settle a contract dispute. I
want to acknowledge the strain that this places on everyone at Clark: our
students, our staff, and our faculty. Clark College is committed to our
students to ensure they are able to start and successfully complete their
winter quarter.

Contingency planning is underway in the
event there is a strike. Communication will be critically important as we move
forward. We have created a website, easily findable from the clark.edu home
page, to help everyone stay up-to-date on events and how they affect the
college’s operations.

I am deeply concerned a strike would have
detrimental impacts on students and our college community. Please know Clark
College wants to reach a settlement, move forward, and support our students.

I want to also remind employees of our EAP resources
during these times of stress. It’s easy to say and sometimes harder to do,
practicing good self-care as stressors build up.

Washington State EAP is accessible, free and
confidential. You can call (360) 407-9490 or toll-free at (877) 313-4455. You
can also visit the EAP website for more information.

Looking ahead

There is an exciting conference coming up on campus soon. Registration is still open for the inaugural Northwest Regional Equity Conference for Higher Education. Registration Fee: $250

I’m also looking forward to attending our annual MLK event in Gaiser Student Center on Tuesday, January 21, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., and seeing the interactive, hands-on display of the history of Buffalo Soldiers/black cowboys, as well as attending the Buffalo Soldiers of the Pacific Northwest documentary screening and discussion from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Join me in honoring Dr. King’s legacy of service to others by donating hair- and skin-care products for African-American families served by YWCA Clark County. Donations can be dropped off at the Student Center. More information at http://www.clark.edu/campus-life/arts-events/mlk/

As we say goodbye to 2019 and head into the new year, I’m getting excited about delivering the 2020 State of the College Address on January 16. The most exciting part, for me, is announcing the inaugural recipients of two new employee awards: the  Lora Whitfield Social Equity Award and the Exceptional Administrative Exempt Award.

Thank you to all who nominated your
colleagues for the inaugural Lora Whitfield Social Equity Award. As a reminder,
this award is given to a member of the Clark College community who has
demonstrated a sustained commitment to advancing equity. We are excited to
announce all the nominees:

  • Dian Ulner
  • Dr. Debra Jenkins
  • Shanda Haluapo
  • Connor Cantrell
  • Cath Busha

For this inaugural year of the Exceptional
Administrative-Exempt Award, 19 nominations were received. The award honors an
Administrative-Exempt staff member who contributes in significant ways toward
building a positive climate, inclusive environment, and improvement in the
quality of life at Clark. The awards committee were impressed by all the
submissions, whether nominees were eligible or not. Congratulations to all the
nominees and heartfelt thanks to those who nominated them:

  • Ben Cecka
  • Kevin Damore
  • Guisela Eberle
  • Sarah Gruhler
  • Shanda Haluapo
  • Judith Hernandez Chapar
  • Heather King
  • Jennifer Lea
  • Sami Lelo
  • Kent Pruett
  • Mirranda Saari
  • Sabra Sand
  • Ashley Schumacher
  • Michael See
  • Kevin Thomas
  • Tasaday Turner
  • Vanessa Watkins
  • Melissa Williams
  • Carley Willis

The winners of these two new awards will be announced at the 2020 State of the College Address on Thursday, January 16. A huge thank-you to all the nominees for making Clark College a better place to work and to learn.

If you have been nominated, be sure to
attend the State of the College Address to be recognized. Please join me in
honoring your colleagues at this event next month.

To all those who are off campus for the break, I wish you safe travels on your way back to us. I am off for a few days to attend my daughter’s wedding in Leavenworth, Washington. They are having an outdoor wedding in the snow on January 4. I’m hoping for clear roads to get over the pass.